According to a new study, men are more likely to splash out on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, a motorbike or a tattoo during a midlife crisis.

A third of men surveyed by health and wellbeing brand, Healthspan went on a spending spree to boost their mood - including £2,000 on an Armani suit, £70,000 on a car and £1,800 on an albino python.

50 per cent of men also felt like they lost their spark for life, with three in 10 saying they had to make a lifestyle change to boost their energy levels once they reached middle age.

One man blamed his midlife crisis for his purchase of a £2,000 Armani suit, while another splashed the cash on a £70,000 car.

According to Dr Meg Arroll, a psychologist for Healthspan, “Reaching midlife can act as a significant milestone for many men and is a time when some men become keenly aware of their own mortality. For some men, a way to cope with these feelings is to make life-changing decisions regarding relationships and money.

"However, this period of introspection doesn’t necessarily have to be negative – for some men, middle age can in fact be positive, leading to more time spent with family, health kicks and getting

back to once loved hobbies.”

The study also revealed that the spending spree didn’t always go down well with wives or girlfriends, with 22 per cent admitting their other half didn’t always know what they were spending.

Top 20 things to buy during a midlife crisis

1. A holiday2. A new gadget3. A sports car4. Designer clothes5. A motorbike6. Tickets to a concert or gig7. A new tattoo8. A trip traveling around the world9. A gym membership10. An Xbox/PlayStation/Games console11. A designer watch12. Tickets to a music festival13. Major renovations to your home14. Expensive or vintage alcohol15. Sex toys16. A new house/property17. A new hairstyle/colour18. A musical instrument19. A new, expensive bike20. Jewellery